Sicily, Puglia and Sardinia share the same Mediterranean soul, yet each offers a different way of living it.
Which one feels like your place?
Choosing where to begin is part of the beauty of travelling in Southern Italy. Each region has its own character, its own light, its own way of welcoming you. Some places captivate you with culture, others with gentle landscapes, others with the feeling of freedom you only find when nature is still wild.
After almost twenty years in Sicily, working as a local travel advisor, I’ve come to understand how personal this choice is.
I design tailor-made journeys across Sicily, Puglia and Sardinia for travellers who value authenticity, quality and the pleasure of exploring slowly.
And very often, the first question they ask me is: “Where should I go?”
So here I am, sharing the spirit of each region, hoping it helps you find the one that feels right for you! And in the next chapters, I’ll dive deeper into each region – Sicily, Puglia and Sardinia – so you can get a clearer sense of what makes them unique.
Sicily: History, Culture and contrasts
Sicily is a crossroads of civilizations: Greek temples, Arab gardens, Norman cathedrals, lively markets, and timeless fishing villages.
It’s a place where history is visible everywhere – in the architecture, the flavors, the stories, and the extraordinary warm hospitality of its people.
What makes Sicily stand apart is its intensity, a mix of light and shadow, grandeur and simplicity, and that touch of fascinating decadence that belongs only to this island.
Here, baroque cities glow at sunset, volcanic landscapes outline the horizon, street markets feel alive, bursting with colours and voices, and the sea is part of how people live.
Sicily is also a land of craft and storytelling: ceramic workshops fired by tradition, theatre stages carved in stone, vineyards on black lava, and pastry shops that guard recipes older than the nation itself.
If you’re dreaming of a Sicilian journey focused on history, culture, and authentic experiences, vibrant food traditions, and small towns rich in charm and history, Sicily is where your bespoke Italian trip can begin.
Puglia: A Gentle Blend of Culture, Sea and Countryside
Puglia is all about gentle rhythms: white villages, olive-tree landscapes, long coastlines, and the understated elegance of life lived simply.
Here, beauty is everywhere: in small hilltop towns, in fishermen’s harbours, in the silence of a masseria surrounded by the countryside, and in the soft baroque details that brighten cities like Lecce.
It’s a region where Italian traditions feel close and genuine: local markets, handmade ceramics, long family lunches, fresh orecchiette, olive oil straight from the mill, evenings in lively piazzas, and the sound of the pizzica, the local dance that still brings people together.
If you’re drawn to slow travel and the idea of a tailor-made itinerary between culture, countryside and sea, Puglia offers a soft, luminous kind of Mediterranean life.
Sardinia: Where Nature Remains Wild and Traditions Alive
Sardinia feels like a world apart: long stretches of turquoise water, quiet coves reachable only by boat, cliffs shaped by the wind, and a bright Mediterranean light.
But the island’s soul is also inland, in its rugged mountains, in pastoral landscapes dotted with sheep and stone huts, and in villages where traditions are still lived with pride. This blend of coast and interior, of wild spaces and deep-rooted identity, is what makes Sardinia so unmistakably Italian, yet completely its own.
Here, the Mediterranean feels more wild and intense: the scent of myrtle in the air, the taste of pecorino and fresh pane carasau, family-run trattorie, handmade textiles, local celebrations, and a daily rhythm that stays close to its roots.
If you’re drawn to open mountain landscapes, quiet beaches, and the authenticity of places that have preserved their traditions, Sardinia offers a rare kind of Mediterranean freedom – simple, wild, and deeply rooted, in a land known as one of the world’s Blue Zones.
But there’s something they all share!
Italian Food! Not just as cuisine, but as identity.
Wherever you go, you’ll find local ingredients, family recipes, seasonal produce, and a culture that welcomes you at the table before anywhere else.
It’s one of the simplest (and most beautiful) ways to understand the Mediterranean.
Where will your Southern journey begin: Sicily, Puglia, or Sardinia?
Each one tells a different story, and I’d be happy to help you choose the one that feels right for you.